A fisherman who took a machete into a public place after an altercation with two men in a Tobermory bar has been fined and put on a tag.
Andrew Aitken, 34, of Marine Court, Dunbeg, pled guilty at an earlier hearing but appeared in Oban Sheriff Court on Wednesday for sentencing.
The court heard that the argument arose after a fellow pub drinker disclosed to him that his companion was a convicted paedophile.
The incident took place in Ledaig car park on January 21, 2024.
Fisherman spent the evening in a Tobermory pub drinking
Aitken was said to have spent the evening drinking to help him switch off after being at sea for eight days.
Defence agent Kevin McGuinness explained: “What should have happened is that my client should have gone back to his boat for a sleep.
“An unusual conversation took place and a person in the bar spoke to my client and was introduced as a paedophile.
“My client is a father of four children.
“He ended up in a conversation with the complainer. The discussion then became very heated between the men. My client then assaulted him.”
‘Appalling behaviour’
Sheriff Euan Cameron confirmed that it was an acquaintance of the complainer who was a paedophile.
Mr McGuinness explained that, because of the events of the evening, Aitken was fearful that the men would attack him when he was on his boat.
He said: “He was concerned there would be a revenge attack. It was then he took the machete into the car park.”
“He has reflected on his appalling behaviour. He has four children aged between one and 11.”
“And they will count on him,” Sheriff Euan Cameron said. “Shame he did not think of them before he embarked on this thuggish behaviour.”
He continued: “I take the view that this is a very serious offence. Knives are a scourge on society, with catastrophic circumstances that are well‑documented in the press.
“You made a conscious decision to return to your boat and retrieve the machete. Intoxication does not lessen your culpability.”
He continued: “I note you have been out of trouble for around 12 years. You are well thought of.
Consequences for fisherman’s family would be ‘catastrophic’
“[If I sent you to jail], the consequences for your family would be catastrophic. But you should have thought of that. Given the impact on your children, I am narrowly persuaded there is an alternative to custody.
“But if you do not co‑operate with a community payback order you will go to prison.”
Aitken was put on a restriction of liberty order for eight months between the hours of 7 pm and 7 am.
He was ordered to complete 300 hours of a community payback order and attend supervision meetings for 18 months.
Sheriff Cameron said there would be no reduction on the length of the orders, as he was not going to prison.
He added: “If you come back before me and have breached this order you will go to prison for two years.”
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